<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The irony of the Hawks' point-guard quandary isn't lost on coach Mike Woodson. After spending two years in search of a starting point guard, the Hawks now have to wait for Speedy Claxton, the handpicked veteran whom the organization believes can lead its young cast. While Claxton recovers from the fractured finger injured during a workout last week, veteran backup Tyronn Lue will assume control of the offense on a team that experienced its least amount of turnover in three years. "I know what Lue can do, and so do his teammates," Woodson said. "So this time is really about trying to continue and develop some of these younger guys. Both Royal [Ivey] and [Lionel] Chalmers will have their chances to run the show, and we'll get a chance to look at them in those pressure situations. "Speedy will eventually be back, and life will be pretty good." Life at the point has been anything but good for the Hawks during Woodson's tenure. In each of the past two seasons they've entered the season with huge question marks at the most crucial position. A well-past-his-prime Kenny Anderson was the starter on opening night two years ago, and last season it was captain Joe Johnson, an experiment that lasted two games. Claxton, who is expected to have the cast on his left hand removed in 2 1/2 weeks, will at least allow them to begin this season with a seasoned veteran in the prime of his career. Lue gives the Hawks the luxury of having two veterans with championship experience ?- Claxton won a title with San Antonio, and Lue back-to-back titles with the L.A. Lakers. "I've never really understood all these questions about our point-guard situation," Lue said after the Hawks' first training camp practice Tuesday. "I felt secure about myself and the way I played last year. Royal did a great job for us last year. He started 66 games and gave us a lot of big minutes. And Salim [Stoudamire] stepped in and did a good job for us when he was running the show. We did a pretty good job. Sometimes, when you have a young team, there are all sorts of things to nitpick and question." What Lue does understand, though, is what the addition of a tempo-changer like Claxton can do for a team that is loaded with wing players who are young and athletic. "Having Speedy makes a lot better team," Lue said. "You're talking about a guy that stays in the paint. And he's going to put so much pressure on a defense and create opportunities for everybody else. It also allows me to play as a backup, the role I've always wanted to be in, [and] that definitely makes us a much better team. And then if anything happens to either one of us, we have Royal coming along the way he is. If any of us run into injury problems, the other guys can step in and play more minutes if necessary."</div> Source
